World leaders to address EDS land use conference

Mike Barry, head of CSR
at Marks & Spencer, is among a host of world leading
academics and business people to address a forthcoming
Auckland conference on changing land use in rural New
Zealand.

The Marks & Spencer carbon labelling and CSR
strategy, ("Plan A - there is no plan B") is at the
forefront of the global response to climate change and
sustainability, and Mr Barry's address is expected to hold
important clues about where the European consumer market is
heading, and the implications for the New Zealand primary
sector.

Conflict in Paradise: The Transformation of Rural
New Zealand, is being organised by the Environmental Defence
Society in partnership with Federated Farmers, Lincoln
University and the NZ Landcare Trust and will be held at The
Langham Hotel, Auckland from 11-12 June.

Significant
keynote speeches will be given by Dr Michael Buxton,
Associate Professor Environment and Planning at the school
of Global Studies, RMIT University, Melbourne, Professor
Robert Costanza, Professor of ecological economics from
University of Vermont, and Jorgen Primdahl, Professor of
Countryside Planning at the University of
Copenhagen.

This conference will focus on the broad issue
of rural land use change - what changes are likely to occur
over the next 25 years and how they can be managed to
achieve positive environmental and economic outcomes for New
Zealand. Current trends in rural land use which will be
examined include:

• Intensification of agriculture

• Conversion of forestry and sheep and cattle farming
to dairying

• Diversification into high value produce
such as kiwifruit, wine, and organics

• The changing
footprint of forestry

• Establishment of native forest
regeneration projects

• Subdivision of rural land for
urban and rural-residential development, particularly in
high amenity areas such as the coast, lakesides and high
country

• Establishment of major infrastructure on
rural land including windfarms, pylons, roads, storage dams
and pipelines

• Use of rural land by the tourism
sector.

These trends have significant and differing
environmental implications for landowners, greenhouse gas
emissions, water quality and quantity, landscape and
biodiversity protection and the natural character of the
coast, all of which will be examined.

These environmental
impacts, in turn, have important economic implications
through their impact on the integrity of New Zealand's
'clean and green' brand which helps leverage increased
margins for our produce overseas and attracts tourists to
our shores. The conference will examine increasing consumer
concerns about food miles and carbon footprints in key
international markets and the links between rural land
management practices and the ability of export industries to
leverage off the national
brand.

EDS is a not-for-profit environmental organisation committed to improving environmental outcomes within New Zealand.

The Environmental Defence Society (EDS) is a professionally run, independent environmental group that was established in 1971. It brings together the disciplines of science, planning, landscape and the law.

It operates as a think-tank, providing thought leadership on key environmental issues as well as representing the environment before councils and the courts.

EDS is located at the collaborative and business aware end of the environmental movement, seeking constructive engagement with all sectors, to achieve good environmental and economic outcomes for all New Zealanders. It has influence.

It also plays an education role, helping business, councils, community groups and iwi to better understand best practice resource management. EDS runs national and regional conferences and seminars on topical issues.

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